Carlton’s huge following and expected rise up the ladder has led to the Blues being given a strong hand of prime-time AFL fixtures next year.
The Michael Voss-led side will have seven games in Thursday and Friday night slots through the opening 15 rounds, including the season-opener against Richmond on March 16.
They also get a Sunday night blockbuster against old rivals Essendon at the MCG before the King’s Birthday holiday in June.
The full 2023 AFL fixture was revealed on Saturday, with each club playing 23 matches over 24 weeks, including a revamped four-week bye period during the middle of the season.
The first 15 rounds of the season have been locked in and the remaining schedule has been left floating to ensure flexibility leading into the finals.
The Brisbane Lions also feature heavily in sought-after timeslots, with two Thursday and four Friday night fixtures, while reigning premiers Geelong have five games in those slots.
Richmond, Melbourne, Sydney and Port Adelaide have four apiece.
Essendon, Hawthorn and GWS are the only clubs without a Thursday or Friday night fixture through the first 15 rounds.
“We are really pleased to be able to deliver a fixture that balances great broadcast slots and great access for fans,” AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld said.
“Momentum early is key, and the fixture has been designed in a way to spread the marquee showpiece Thursday and Friday nights timeslots across all of the key states, including games at the MCG, Marvel Stadium, SCG, The Gabba, Adelaide Oval and Optus Stadium.
“Thursday night blockbusters remain a priority for us, both from a broadcast and crowd-build perspective.”
There will be Thursday night matches through the opening five rounds and again during the bye weeks, from rounds 13 to 15.
Local derbies in South Australia and Western Australia highlight the round-three fixture, with St Kilda set to celebrate their 150th anniversary against Essendon in the same round.
Adam Cerra of the Blues runs with the ball. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
North Melbourne host Carlton on Good Friday, while Geelong and Sydney will meet in a repeat of last season’s grand final in round six.
The Saturday night fixture will be the Cats’ first game for the year at GMHBA Stadium, which is undergoing a redevelopment, and they will unfurl the 2022 premiership flag before the match.
As previously announced, all clubs will be based in South Australia for the ‘Gather Round’ festival of football in round five.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round will be played across rounds 10 and 11, with the Essendon-Richmond Dreamtime clash at the MCG on May 20 as the centrepiece.
Carlton last played finals in 2013 but are well placed to end the drought after missing out by the barest of margins last season.
Of the 2022 finalists, they only meet the Magpies and Melbourne twice next year, with other double-up games against Gold Coast, GWS, St Kilda and West Coast.
“Having had the highest home crowd attendance in the competition last season, which the AFL have recognised, this is reflected in our fixture, with our club in a high number of prime-time games during the first half of the season,” Blues CEO Brian Cook said.
Redb
Roar Guru
Let's face it, the fixture is compromised in a quest for eyeballs & crowds, not to mention that the AFL should move to a season of playing each team once, then finals. The TV deal has sealed the fate of the number of games for awhile. Would need to move to 20 teams (Tas + ?) to revisit and perhaps some form of 'rep' games. Maybe even divisions?
Redb
Roar Guru
Agree on Essendon, although i suspect it will be tough to maintain for the whole season. new coach with bring out an early run.
Redb
Roar Guru
Glad the Dons will not get a Thursday night match, they are the worst to attend.
berrlins
Roar Pro
For mine there are 3 teams that probably have the best chance of jumping into the 8, 1 likely into the 4. Carlton and Port for sure are the highest odds, with the Saints and maybe Gold Coast just behind them although don't count Essendon out either. The three most vulnerable of falling out from last year are probably Richmond, Freo and the Bulldogs. Although I could easily see Sydney falling as well. Be interesting to see if the top 4 will see anyone from outside of last year's 8 or not.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
The team to beat can't have not made finals the year before. I think the Blues will make the 8, I think they'll be a good side, but geez, they aren't the team to beat just yet. Right now Geelong, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Freo, Richmond and Collingwood are all ahead of Carlton in terms of being a 'team to beat'.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Interesting that the team that finishes 9th got way more prime time games than the team that finished 5th and were a slither away from top 4... Oh wait that teams not Victorian. 3.10pm on a Friday (1.40pm WA time) at some suburban ground in Adelaide against the most irrelevant team in the competition is an absolute joke for a premiership contender. This whole gather round malarkey is an absolute farce, all the games will be blowouts as their are barely any good match ups that weekend. Freo have been absolutely shafted as all their fans will be at either work or school and can't even watch it!
XI
Roar Guru
The 2006 Cats team missed the finals after a semi-final berth and a prelim appearance. Not exactly the same as a team that hasn't made the finals in nearly a decade
Maxy
Roar Rookie
The AFL are onto us.Lycett and Fantasia missed the whole season as did Miles Bergmann [pick 18] and Josh Sinn [pick 11] Add Rioli and Jason Horne Francis [Pick 1] 6 handy additions to a side that lost 8 games by less than 2 goalsDixon missed half the season also which people sometimes forget.Bring it on
Cat
Roar Guru
Something your side has never accomplished - won another AFL premiership.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Why, what did you do?
Cat
Roar Guru
Least my side has a past worth remembering
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Thought you'd be straight to the keyboard. It's the distant past since your mob last won the flag. It's all about the future.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Probably comes under mental strength but yes. Hopefully they have learned a lot from last year and we can grow in this area. the addition of the mature Acres into the wing role should help this as well given how critical the role is in todays game.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Yep, the BLues best was brilliant but a couple of quarters and a cople of games where they fell asleep meant they went from being possibly top 4 to 9th. This is where I really like the addition of Acres, mature player who plays a critical role in todays game where we really lacked last year. Him doing the right thing more often than not helps our defenisve structure and prevents some of those lapses.
Cat
Roar Guru
Could. But won’t.
Cat
Roar Guru
4. On field leadership
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
When the PurplePeople beat the 3 top 5 sides they have to play twice, imagine how clear on top they’ll be. Freo could be the first team ever to win 23 H&A games in a season.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Perhaps. I tend to find the teams that jump are just more consistent with their already evolved game plan. That's the Blues main issue...consistency. They have a solid game plan. Look at the 2006 Cats team, 2016 Tigers team & the 2020 Melbourne team. You'll see striking similarities to this 2022 Blues team. I don't need to yell you want happened in the following years for all those teams. :happy:
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Voss is learning well from mistakes he made 1st time around as a headcoach. Blues primed for a tilt at a Premiership
Zed16
Guest
It maybe 10 years since we played in the finals, but we did win a final against Richmond in that series. Charlie can you remind the fans here when Essendon last won a finals match???